Program areas at Be Present
CONSULTING & TRAINING SERVICES AND COLLABORATIONS. (1) Consulting Services: The demand for consulting services continued to grow in 2023. Organizations prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values, result in more requests for Be Present, Inc. (BPI) consulting services using the Be Present Empowerment Model (BPEM) as a core component of the services. BPI provided Consulting Services for several NPOs: (A) Pie Ranch, a CA NPO committed to cultivating a healthy and just food system from seed to table through food education, farmer training, and regional partnerships. BPI completed services in 2022 centered on the next phase of infusing the BPEM to support the organization to further strengthen key traits and attributes of organizational excellence. In 2023, services concluded with the preparation and presentation of a Comprehensive Final Report that included lessons learned and recommendations for the next steps. (B) Wisdom & Money, a CA NPO committed to transformational work with people of financial wealth and people from the culture of wealth to engage with money as a doorway to spiritual transformation at the personal, communal, and systemic levels. The organization provides publications, workshops, spiritual retreats, spiritual companionship, and relational circles. BPI completed services in 2022 that centered on supporting the organization in its next level of development. Conversations continued in 2023 to discuss organizational priorities and implementation of Phase II. (C) St. Pius X Catholic High School (SPX), an Atlanta-based archdiocesan high school that provides a college preparatory education for the formation of mind, body, and spirit of each student in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. BPI conducted an information session with administrators, staff, faculty, and students on November 2, 2023, to introduce the BPEM. BPI prepared and submitted a proposal in February 2024 entitled, "Building Effective Relationships to Lead with Love" to support the vision and mission of SPX. Conversations will continue in 2024 to discuss project implementation. (2) Collaborations: Social change is not accomplished by one organization working alone but by the collaboration of organizations working together for social good and justice. An essential pillar of BPI is building strong and sustainable alliances. (A) In 2023 collaborated with a non-profit, Wisdom & Money, described above in section 4a (1), to continue an 18-month training institute entitled: "Trailblazing Institute: Creating and Sustaining Inner Transformation, Partnerships and Social Justice." The Institute taught the BPEM, Wisdom Spiritual Practices, and Transformative Money Practices to create sustainable leadership for social justice. It was comprised of six quarterly, 4-day sessions concluding with a conference. The Institute launched in 2022, and members of both organizations collaborated to design and facilitate three training sessions with a diverse training cohort of approximately 29 children, youth, and adults. In 2023, the remaining three sessions were held in January, April, and July. The Institute concluded with a Trailblazing Conference, facilitated by the training cohort, held in October at Forrest Hill Resort in Dahlonega, GA, and attended by 90 diverse participants ages 1 to 80+, from the Southeast, Northwest, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and West. (B) In 2023, BPI collaborated with Bounce Back Generation (BBG), a CA NPO with a mission to help youth and parents/caregivers bounce back from the negative effects of toxic stress and trauma by creating and sharing practical tools, training, art, and media that foster resilience for this generation and the next. BPI and BBG collaborated to develop a video, led by Be Present Youth Trainers, informing viewers of training opportunities in the BPEM for placement on BBG's website. (C) Girl Child and Her Long Walk to Freedom, a joint project of the Imago Dei Fund, and the Institute for Faith and Gender Empowerment, with a mission to nurture a community of faith-inspired change agents putting "faith to work through love" to liberate the world from the deep roots of patriarchy. BPI designed and facilitated session one in a series of "Contemplative Conversations" for the project's global cohort of 15 people.
4c. SPECIAL EVENTS AND EXHIBITION - In 2023 Be Present celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Lillie P. Allen's Black & Female: What is the Reality? Workshop held at Spelman College in 1983 for the First National Conference on Black Women's Health Issues. Anniversary Events entitled "Black Women in Leadership: Building an Inclusive Movement" were held in-person in GA and via Zoom and included: (A) Black & Female: What is the Reality? Gathering and Celebration: An evening for Black women and girls to share visions, perspectives, and experiences in leadership across various fields in pursuit of social justice. Gatherings were held in February and November. Approximately 50 participants attended. (B) Black & Female: What is the Reality? Training and Retreat Celebration, facilitated by the BFLT, held in July at Forrest Hill Resort in Dahlonega, GA, and attended by 38 participants ages 1 to 75, from the Southeast, Northwest, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and West. (C) Strategic Planning Sessions: Be Present Social Justice Archives Project. Led by the Be Present staff in partnership with the Regional Organizing Core Groups, a 2-day planning session was held in November to develop the initial strategy and concept for a physical display of archival materials. (D) Voices in Movement Building. Gatherings were held with white women and, men and boys, to bring together leaders from the Southeast, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and West to share learnings in movement building using the BPEM.
NATIONAL NETWORK LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT - BPI's mission is to build sustainable leadership for social justice. To accomplish this mission, BPI engaged in the following activities that provide people with the skills and insights to become more effective leaders in their families, communities, and other institutions in which they participate: (A) Regional Organizing Core Group (ROCG) Support and Development: BPI supported established ROCG's in NY, GA, CA, and OR to organize in local communities by developing Be Present Support Groups and holding free monthly developer's meetings to train people in the BPEM. Approximately 200 people were served during 2023. BPI supported an Emerging ROCG in SC and other areas through telephone and online technical assistance and training on the BPEM. (B) Children & Youth Learning & Play Leadership Program (CYLP): The CYLP is a partnership between adults and youth from ages 5 to 18 years old. Approximately 20 youth are members of the Program. They learn leadership skills, receive training in the BPEM, and are skilled trainers and facilitators in the BPEM. They are responsible for developing their own Be Present Support Groups, with the support of their ROCGs. CYLP members are non-voting Youth advisors on the BPI Board of Directors who are authentically involved in BPI leadership, planning, and program development. In 2023, the CYLP met monthly to provide input in Be Present programs and continue their leadership development in the BPEM. Three youth trainers were leaders in the Trailblazing Institute and served as co-chairs of committees, providing training in the BPEM and expertise in engaging children, youth, and adults in the Institute. (C) Black & Female: What is the Reality? Leadership Team: The BFLT is comprised of Black women and girls from established and emerging ROCGs in NY, GA, and SC. The team meets monthly to plan and design Be Present programs for Black women and girls including quarterly gatherings and celebrations and leadership trainings. The team collaborates with the National Network Leadership on all aspects of program implementation. Approximately 10 women are members of the team. (D) National Network Leadership Monthly Meetings: The National Network Leadership is comprised of representatives from each ROCG and the BPI Board of Directors. They convene monthly via Zoom to report on activities in each development area; monitor progress on actualization plans; and share best practices in leadership and fund development.
Support services, workshops and training services.